Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium for on-demand printing

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus generates, in a case where first component data and second component data for forming a product are received, one composite job based on the first component data and the second component data, a first component job based on the first component data, and a second component job based on the second component data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus anda method for implementing efficiency of work from generation to outputof printing and finishing jobs in on-demand printing, for example.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, on-demand printing has been realized by improvement ina printing technique through digitization of receiving an order via theInternet and an image forming apparatus. In a production site of theon-demand printing, efficient production is required for an order of aproduct, for example, a photobook, a photo album, a manual or the like,including one or more components, such as a cover and a text.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-38107 discusses atechnique in which a job including a printing instruction and a bindinginstruction is generated from an uploaded order, and the generated jobis output to an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus,for work efficiency from job generation to job output. Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2012-38107 discusses a technique in which ajob is generated from the uploaded order for each of components includedin a product, the product including one or more components.

However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-38107, deviceselection and a job output operation are required for each jobs for aplurality of components when one or more devices are used to generate aproduct. This may result in an increase of operation load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receivefirst component data and second component data for forming a product,and a generation unit configured to generate a composite job based onthe first component data and the second component data, a firstcomponent job based on the first component data, and a second componentjob based on the second component data.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among an order, aproduct, and components.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an order.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of order information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of aninformation processing system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of themanagement server.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of themanagement server.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of manufacturing processesof a photobook.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among components, acomponent job, and a logical job.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a component job.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a logical job.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating job generation processing.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of work flowmanagement software.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting file of anoutput destination device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram including the flowcharts of FIGS. 15A and 15B.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts illustrating job output processing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of work flowmanagement software.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of work flowmanagement software.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of work flowmanagement software.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of work flowmanagement software.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship among an order, aproduct, and components according to an exemplary embodiment. An order100 includes at least one product or more. According to the presentembodiment, a photobook 101 is assumed as the product. The photobook 101includes at least one component or more. According to the presentexemplary embodiment, the photobook 101 includes components which are atext 102, a cover 103, a wraparound band 104, and a jacket 105. APortable Document Format (hereinafter referred to as PDF) is uploaded asa content of the component, and image data is arranged in the PDF.

For example, the order 100 may include at least a description indicatingthat the order 100 is an order and information (order information) forspecifying a product. The information for specifying the productincludes a content of the product including designation of an image anda layout, and the types and the number of components. According to theorder information, the product, i.e., the photobook 101 in an example ofthe order 100, is specified, and the components can also be specified.In an example illustrated in FIG. 1, the components are the text 102,the cover 103, the wraparound band 104, and the jacket 105 according tothe content of the order 100. An image printed on each of the componentsis also specified according to the order 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order 100 accordingto the present exemplary embodiment. The order 100 sent from an orderserver via the Internet has a folder configuration illustrated in FIG.2. A product folder 202 is provided just below an order folder 201 beinga top-level folder. Order information 203 indicating an option settingand a component configuration, a purchaser, and a delivery destinationof a product and component folders 204 to 207 is provided just below theproduct folder 202. A PDF is stored in each of the component folders 204to 207 as a content of component data, and image data is arranged in thePDF.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order information 203according to the present exemplary embodiment.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the order information 203 includesorder detail information 300 indicating an order number and an orderdate. The order detail information 300 includes purchaser information301, a delivery method 302, product information 303 indicating a productnumber, a product name, and a product type number, and componentinformation 304. A product and a component can be specified according tothe order detail information 300. “Component ID” indicates the productnumber, “CatalogID” indicates the product type number, and“DescriptiveName” indicates the product name.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of aninformation processing system according to the present exemplaryembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the network configuration ofthe information processing system according to the present exemplaryembodiment, an order server 400 and a printing studio 402 are connectedto each other to realize communication via a network 401, such as a widearea network (WAN).

The order server 400 is a server computer functioning as an uploadingsystem via a web. If the photobook 101 in the example illustrated inFIG. 1 is purchased via the web, for example, a customer starts a webbrowser from home, and accesses a web site provided by the order server400. The customer selects a desired product, uploads a picture requiredto produce the product to the order server 400, pays a presented amount,and orders the photobook 101. The order corresponds to the order 100,and order information for specifying the product and components includedin the order 100 is the order information 203.

The printing studio 402 includes a management server 403, and an imageforming apparatus 404, an image forming apparatus 405, a post-processingapparatus 406, and a post-processing apparatus 407. The post-processingapparatuses 406 and 407 may be or may not be connected to a local areanetwork (LAN). According to the present exemplary embodiment, thepost-processing apparatuses 406 and 407 are connected to the LAN.

The management server 403 receives the order 100 issued from the orderserver 400, and generates a work flow indicating processes for producingthe product according to the received order information 203. Themanagement server 403 manages printing by the image forming apparatuses404 and 405 and post-processing by the post-processing apparatuses 406and 407. Each of the image forming apparatuses 404 and 405 is connectedto the management server 403, and executes, among the processes includedin the work flow generated by the management server 403, the printingprocess, i.e., a print job, to print components included in a printproduct which is the product. For post-processing, finishing jobs arealso output from the management sever 403 as the processes included inthe work flow and the product on which the finishing jobs is to beexecuted is output to each of the post-processing apparatuses 406 and407.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the managementserver 403 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Orderreceiving software 500 for receiving an order from the order server 400via the network 401 is installed in the management server 403. Further,work flow management software 501 for outputting a job relating to thereceived order to the image forming apparatus 404, the image formingapparatus 405, the post-processing apparatus 406, and thepost-processing apparatus 407 is installed in the management server 403.The management server 403 includes a database 502 storing received orderinformation and content data. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, the software is synonymous with a program.

The work flow management software 501 registers, when receiving theorder from the order receiving software 500, data of the order in thedatabase 502, and further performs prepress processing, job generationprocessing, and job output processing for each of the componentsincluded in the printed product relating to the order. The work flowmanagement software 501 performs image correction processing as theprepress processing for an image arranged in content data of each of thecomponents included in the printed product. The work flow managementsoftware 501 further performs PDF layout processing to the content dataof each of the components included in the printed product for adding aregister mark to be used for cutting processing and a barcode to be usedfor an inspection. The work flow management software 501 generates acomponent job for each of the components after the prepress processing,and outputs the generated component job to the image forming apparatus404, the image forming apparatus 405, the post-processing apparatus 406,and the post-processing apparatus 407.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of themanagement server 403 according to the present exemplary embodiment. InFIG. 6, a central processing unit 604 reads programs, such as the orderreceiving software 500 and the work flow management software 501, andrelated data from a storage medium, such as a compact disk read onlymemory (CD-ROM), an integrated circuit (IC) memory card, or the like,via a medium reading device 605. Alternatively, the central processingunit 604 receives the programs and the related data via the network 401,and stores the received program and related data in an auxiliary storagedevice 607, such as a hard disk. Then, the central processing unit 604executes an application program loaded from the auxiliary storage device607 into a main storage device 600, and processes information input froman input device 603. As a result, the component job is output to theimage forming apparatus 404, the image forming apparatus 405, thepost-processing apparatus 406, and the post-processing apparatus 407 viaan output device 602 and a network interface (I/F) 606. According to thepresent exemplary embodiment, the output device 602 is a display device,such as a display, and is distinguished from the image forming apparatus404 and the image forming apparatus 405 which are originally included inan output device. The input device 603 includes a keyboard, a pointingdevice, and the like. A procedure illustrated in a flowchart to bedescribed below is stored in any of the main storage device 600, theauxiliary storage device 607, and a read-only memory (ROM) 601 in themanagement server 403, and is generally executed after being replicatedonto the main storage device 600 by the central processing unit 604.

Further, the auxiliary storage device 607 may include a hard disk or amagneto-optical disk, or may be a combination of the hard disk and themagneto-optical disk. The present invention is not restricted even ifdevices included in the auxiliary storage device 607 are connected toeach other via a network.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the work flow management software 501according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a feature of processing according tothe present exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 7, the work flow management software 501 includes an uploadeddata processing unit 700, and a prepress processing unit 701, an outputdestination device acquisition unit 702, a component job generation unit703, a logical job generation unit 704, an output destination devicedetermination unit 705, and a job output unit 706. Each of the units 700to 706 represents a functional block implemented when the centralprocessing unit 604 executes the work flow management software 501, andcan also be referred to as a unit that implements its function.

The uploaded data processing unit 700 registers, when receiving an orderfrom the order receiving software 500, order information as informationfor specifying a product and contents in the database 502. For example,in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, when receiving the orderinformation of the order 100, the uploaded data processing unit 700specifies the photobook 101 from the order information, and furtherspecifies the text 102, the cover, 103, the wraparound band 104, and thejacket 105 which are the components included in the photobook 101. Theuploaded data processing unit 700 registers the specified photobook 101and each of the components relating to the photobook 101 in the database502. The uploaded data processing unit 700 also registers an ordernumber and an order date included in order information and specificationinformation of the product when registering an order received. Further,a product number is issued to each of products, and the product is alsostored in the database 502 together with the product number.

The prepress processing unit 701 performs prepress processing(specifically, image correction processing and PDF layout processing)for each of contents of the components registered by the uploaded dataprocessing unit 700. According to the present exemplary embodiment, theproduct number issued by the uploaded data processing unit 700 isembedded as a barcode in image data during the PDF layout processing bythe prepress processing unit 701. Thus, it can be reliably assured thatthe text 102 and the cover 103 are components included in the sameproduct by reading the barcode and performing collation, whenpost-processes (e.g., a case binding process) are performed on the text102 and the cover 103. Further, a post-processing machine can acquire aproduct number by reading the barcode printed on a print product using abarcode reader or a sensor and can specify a job ticket forpost-processing by searching job tickets indicating the same productnumber. Thus, when the product is post-processed, time and laborrequired to search for the job ticket on a panel of the post-processingmachine can be saved.

The output destination device acquisition unit 702 acquires a name and amodel name of an output destination device to be described in a job. Anacquisition source of the output destination device is a printManagement Information System (MIS) in printing industries. When theprint MIS is used, a production schedule having a print job and afinishing job assigned to each of the devices operating in the printingstudio 402 can be generated. The output destination device acquisitionunit 702 can acquire the production schedule from the print MIS andspecify the output destination devices for the print job and thefinishing job from the production schedule. Alternatively, the devicename and the model name to be used for producing the product may bedescribed in a setting file, and the output destination devices for eachof the print job and the finishing job for producing the product may bespecified based on the setting file. The acquisition source does notrestrict the present invention. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, the output destination device is acquired from the settingfile.

The component job generation unit 703 generates a component job for eachof the components registered by the uploaded data processing unit 700.The component job means a print job to be output to the image formingapparatus and a finishing job to be output to the post-processingapparatus. More specifically, the component job generation unit 703describes the output destination devices acquired by the outputdestination device acquisition unit 702 in the print job and thefinishing job and acquires print setting and post-processing settingassociated with processes stored in the database 502. The component jobgeneration unit 703 then generates the print job and the finishing jobfor each of the components registered by the uploaded data processingunit 700. The component job generation unit 703 stores the generatedprint job and finishing job in the database 502. The product number isdescribed in each of the generated component jobs to be linked to theproduct. The product number generated by the uploaded data processingunit 700 is used.

Processes for producing the product are previously defined for eachproduct type in the work flow management software 501, and print settingand post-processing setting are stored therein while being linked toeach of the processes. The defined processes are stored in the database502. The print job and the finishing job are generated according to theprocesses. For the photobook 101 in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, aprinting process 800 includes printing processes 801 to 804 respectivelyassigned to the text 102, the cover 103, the wraparound band 104, andthe jacket 105, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A post-processing process 805includes a case binding process 806 of the text 102 and the cover 103.Cutting and creasing are performed for the wraparound band 104 and thejacket 105. Thus, cut and crease processes 807 and 808 are respectivelyassigned to the wraparound band 104 and the jacket 105. The printsetting is associated with each of the printing processes 801 to 804,and the post-processing setting is associated with each of the casebinding process 806 and the cut and crease processes 807 and 808.

The logical job generation unit 704 generates, for each of the productsregistered by the uploaded data processing unit 700, one logical job forproducing the product. More specifically, after the component jobgeneration unit 703 generates all component jobs of the product, andfinishes storing the component jobs in the database 502, the logical jobgeneration unit 704 combines all of the component jobs to generate onelogical job, and stores the logical job in the database 502. The productnumber to be linked to the product is described in the generated logicaljob. The product number generated by the uploaded data processing unit700 is used. The logical job may also be referred to as a composite jobbecause it is generated by combining a plurality of component jobs.

The jobs generated by the component job generation unit 703 and thelogical job generation unit 704 are displayed on a user interfaceprovided by the work flow management software 501. A user thus canselect a job and issue an output instruction.

The output destination device determination unit 705 determines, whenthe user issues the output instruction for the job selected on the userinterface provided by the work flow management software 501, an outputdestination of the job according to a device designated by the user.

The job output unit 706 outputs the jobs generated by the component jobgeneration unit 703 and the logical job generation unit 704 to thedevice determined by the output destination device determination unit705.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between acomponent job corresponding to each of the components illustrated inFIG. 1 and a logical job for producing the photobook 101. The componentjob is a job to be generated for each of the components, and includes aprint job to be output to the image forming apparatus and a finishingjob to be output to the post-processing apparatus. Component jobs 900 to906 are generated for the respective components. The component jobsinclude the print jobs 900 to 903 and the finishing jobs 904 to 906.More specifically, the seven component jobs are generated to print thephotobook 101. Thus, it is required that the jobs are efficiently outputto the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, after all of thecomponent jobs are generated, and the logical job 907 is generated bythe information processing apparatus (management server 403) accordingto the present exemplary embodiment. The logical job 907 means a jobobtained by collecting all component jobs for producing one product.According to the present exemplary embodiment, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 1, the logical job 907 is generated to produce thephotobook 101, and includes the print jobs 900 to 903, the case bindingjob 904, and the cut and crease jobs 905 and 906. FIG. 10 is a diagramillustrating an example of the component job according to the presentexemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is an example including the print job 900of the text, the case binding job 904, and the cut and crease job 905illustrated in FIG. 9, for describing details of the component job.

The print job 900 includes job detail information 1000 to 1004. A printsetting for a print job is described in the job detail information 1000.The print setting may directly be described in the print job 900, or aUniform Resource Locator (URL) for referring to a file including theprint setting may be described therein. According to the presentexemplary embodiment, the URL for referring to the file including theprint setting is described in the job detail information 1000. The imageforming apparatus executes printing processes 800 according to the printsetting described in the job detail information 1000. The job detailinformation 1001 includes a job type, and “PrintingJob” indicating thatthe job type is a print job is described therein. The job detailinformation 1002 includes an output destination device name acquired bythe output destination device acquisition unit 702, and “Image formingapparatus 404” is described therein as an example. The job detailinformation 1003 includes a model name of the output destination deviceacquired by the output destination device acquisition unit 702, and“On-demand printing machine” is described as an example. The job detailinformation 1004 includes a product number of the product. The productnumber is a value unique for each product issued by the component jobgeneration unit 703 at job generation.

The case binding job 904 includes job detail information 1005 to 1008.The job detail information 1005 includes post-processing setting for afinishing job, and a URL for referring to a file including thepost-processing setting is described therein. The job detail information1006 includes a job type, and “FinishingJob” indicating that the jobtype is a finishing job is described therein. The job detail information1007 and 1008 include an output destination device name and a modelname, respectively. “Post-processing apparatus 406” is described as anoutput destination device in the job detail information 1007. “Bindingmachine” is described as a model name in the job detail information1008. Job detail information 1009 includes a product number, similarlyin the print job 900.

The cut and crease job 905 also has the similar structure as those ofthe print job 900 and the case binding job 904, previously described,and includes job detail information 1010 to 1014.

The format of readable setting information differs depending on theimage forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus. According tothe present exemplary embodiment, the job output unit 706 converts theprint setting described in the job detail information 1000, thepost-processing setting described in the job detail information 1005,and the post-processing setting described in the job detail information1010 into a format corresponding to the output destination device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the logical job 907according to the present exemplary embodiment. As described above, thelogical job 907 is a job for producing one product. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 1, the logical job 907 is a job for producing thephotobook 101, which is the product. The logical job 907 is a jobobtained by collecting the component jobs forming one product. Thus, thecomponent jobs 900 to 906 for producing the photobook 101 are collectedin the logical job 907. For example, the logical job 907 includes thejob detail information 1000 to 1004 of the print job 900 as a firstblock 1102. Similarly, blocks 1103 to 1108 are job detail information ofthe component jobs 901 to 906, respectively. A job type 1100 is used forspecifying that the job is a logical job, and “CombinedJob” indicatingthat the job is a logical job is described. A product number 1101 isgenerated by the uploaded data processing unit 700, and a value uniquefor each product is described therein.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart of job generation processing accordingto the present exemplary embodiment. In the work flow managementsoftware 501 illustrated in FIG. 7, the uploaded data processing unit700 generates jobs for all the product and the component included in theorder registered in the database 502. However, the product and thecomponent, for which the jobs have already been generated, do not becomea job generation processing target. The job generation processing isapplied to the product and the component for which the jobs have not yetbeen generated.

In step S1200, the work flow management software 501 starts the jobgeneration processing.

In step S1201, the component job generation unit 703 acquires productinformation from the database 502 for a product which is the jobgeneration processing target. The product information means the productinformation 303 in which the product number, the product type number,and the product name illustrated in FIG. 3 are described, for example.

In step S1202, the component job generation unit 703 acquires processesset in the product, e.g., the printing process and the post-processingprocess illustrated in FIG. 8, based on a product type number forspecifying the product type included in the product information.

In steps S1203 to S1208, the component job generation unit 703 generatescomponent jobs for all the processes that have been acquired in stepS1202. More specifically, in step S1203, the component job generationunit 703 determines whether the process is the printing process orpost-processing process. If the process is the printing process (YES instep S1203), the processing proceeds to step S1204. If the process isthe post-processing process (NO in step S1203), the processing proceedsto step S1209.

In step S1204, the component job generation unit 703 acquires the printsetting associated with the printing process. As described above, in thework flow management software 501, the process is defined for eachproduct type, and the print setting or the post-processing setting isstored while being associated with each of the processes. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, the print setting is stored while beingassociated with each of the printing processes 801 to 804 of the text,the cover, the wraparound band, and the jacket in the printing process800. Thus, the component job generation unit 703 acquires the printsetting for each of the processes.

In step S1205, the component job generation unit 703 acquires an outputdestination device name and a model name which are previously acquiredand stored in the database 502 by the output destination deviceacquisition unit 702 for executing the printing process. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, the four printing processes 801 to 804 areincluded. Thus, output device names and model names for the fourprinting processes 801 to 804 are acquired.

In step S1206, the component job generation unit 703 generates a printjob based on the print setting acquired in step S1204 and the outputdestination device name and the model name acquired in step S1205. Theprint job 900 illustrated in FIG. 10 is an example of the print job. Inthis case, the component job generation unit 703 may store the printsetting acquired in step S1204 in the database 502 and describe a pathindicating a place where the print setting is stored in the print job.

In step S1207, the component job generation unit 703 stores thegenerated component job, e.g., the print job for the text in thedatabase 502.

The component job generation unit 703 also performs job generationprocessing for the post-processing process, similarly for the printingprocess. More specifically, in step S1208, the component job generationunit 703 determines whether the job generation processing has beencompleted for all the processes. If the job generation processing forthe post-processing process has not been completed (NO in step S1208),the processing proceeds to step S1203 and S1209.

In step S1209, the component job generation unit 703 acquires thepost-processing setting associated with the post processing process. Asdescribed in step S1204, in the work flow management software 501, theprocess is defined for each product type, and the post-processingsetting is stored while being associated with each of the processes. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 8, the post-processing setting is storedwhile being associated with each of the three post-processing processes806 to 808. Thus, the component job generation unit 703 acquires thepost-processing settings.

In step S1210, the component job generation unit 703 acquires an outputdestination device name and a model name which are previously acquiredand stored in the database 502 by the output destination deviceacquisition unit 702 for executing the post-processing process stored inthe database 502. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the threepost-processing processes 806 to 808 are included. Thus, output devicenames and model names for the three post-processing processes 806 to 808are acquired.

In step S1211, the component job generation unit 703 generates afinishing job based on the post-processing setting that has beenacquired in step S1209 and the output destination device name and themodel name that have been acquired in step S1210. The case binding job904 and the cut and crease job 905 illustrated in FIG. 10 are theexamples of the finishing job. In this case, the component jobgeneration unit 703 may store the post-processing setting acquired instep S1209 in the database 502 and describe a path indicating a placewhere the post-processing setting is stored in the finishing job.

After the generation of the component jobs 900 to 907 has been completedfor all the processes, the work flow management software 501 generates alogical job.

In step S1212, the logical job generation unit 704 acquires thecomponent jobs 900 to 906 stored in the database 502 and job detailinformation of the component jobs, and generates the logical job. Thelogical job 907 illustrated in FIG. 11 is the specific example of thelogical job.

In step S1213, the logical job generation unit 704 stores the generatedlogical job in the database 502.

In step S1214, the work flow management software 501 determines whetherall the jobs have been generated for the product. Unless all the jobshave been generated for the product (NO in step S1214), the processingproceeds to step S1201. If all the jobs have been generated for theproduct (YES in step S1214), the processing proceeds to step S1215. Instep S1215, the job generation processing ends.

The job generation processing flow according to the present exemplaryembodiment is then completed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the workflow management software 501 according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the screen of the workflow management software 501 is roughly divided into four parts. Thefirst part is a title bar 1300 of the work flow management software 501.The second part is a job list 1301 for displaying jobs managed by thework flow management software 501. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, the logical job 907 and the component jobs 900 to 906 aredisplayed in the job list 1301. The third part includes outputdestination devices 1303 to 1308. The output destination devices 1303 to1308 can also be displayed as icons (objects), or may be listed in atext format. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the outputdestination devices are displayed on the screen using the icons. Thefourth part is an output button 1302. When the output button 1302 ispressed, the job selected in the job list 1301 is output to the outputdestination device.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, a logical device A, alogical device B, the image forming apparatus 404, image formingapparatus 405, the post-processing apparatus 406, and thepost-processing apparatus 407 are respectively prepared as the outputdestination devices 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, and 1308. The logicaldevice does not referred to a device physically existing but arepresentation of a group of physical devices. Alternatively, thelogical device is used for outputting the job to a device described inan output target job. On the other hand, the icons 1305 to 1308 arephysical devices, such as the image forming apparatus 404 and thepost-processing apparatus 406.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output destinationdevice setting file 1400 according to the present exemplary embodiment.According to the present exemplary embodiment, the output destinationdevice setting file 1400 is represented in an Extensible Markup Language(XML) format, and has already been set when the work flow managementsoftware 501 is installed.

The output destination device setting file 1400 can be roughly dividedinto two parts. The first part is a logical device definition list 1401,and the second part is a physical device definition list 1406.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the logical devicedefinition list 1401 includes logical device definition information 1402and 1403 each defining a name of a logical device and physical devicesforming the logical device. As illustrated in the logical devicedefinition information 1402, only a logical device name may bedescribed. As illustrated in the logical device definition information1403, physical device designation information 1404 and 1405 may bedescribed just below the logical device definition information 1403. Thelogical device names described in the logical device definitioninformation 1402 and 1403 are displayed on the screen of the work flowmanagement software 501. An output destination device name and a modelname are described in each of the physical device designationinformation 1404 and 1405.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the physical devicedefinition list 1406 includes physical device definition information1407 to 1410. An output destination device name and a model name aredescribed in each of the physical device definition information 1407 to1410.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating job output processing according tothe present exemplary embodiment. When the output button 1302 is pressedon the screen of the work flow management software 501 illustrated inFIG. 13, the job output processing is performed. The job outputprocessing will be described below based on a specific screen operationwith reference to FIG. 13 and FIGS. 16 to 21.

In step S1500, the job output unit 706 starts the job output processingat the time point where the output button 1302 is pressed on the screenof the work flow management software 501.

A case where an instruction to output the logical job 907 to the logicaldevice A 1303 is issued will be described with reference to FIGS. 11,13, and 14.

In step S1501, the job output unit 706 determines whether a selected jobis a component job. In an example illustrated in FIG. 13, the logicaljob 907 is selected in the job list 1301. Thus, the job output unit 706receives the logical job 907. The job output unit 706 refers to the jobtype 1100 in the logical job 907 and specifies that the selected job isa logical job (NO in step S1501), and the processing proceeds to stepS1505.

In step S1505, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a physical device is selected. For example, in theexample illustrated in FIG. 13, the logical device A 1303 is selected.At this time, the output destination device determination unit 705refers to the output destination device setting file 1400, and searchesthe output destination device setting file 1400 for a device name“logical device A” of the selected logical device A 1303. As a result,the device name of the selected logical device A 1303 and the logicaldevice name described in the logical device definition information 1402are both “logical device A”, thereby match each other. Thus, the outputdestination device determination unit 705 determines that a logicaldevice has been selected (NO in step S1505), and the processing proceedsto step S1509.

In step S1509, the output destination device determination unit 705refers to the logical device definition information 1402 for theselected logical device A 1303, and determines whether physical devicedesignation information is described. The physical device designationinformation is not described for the logical device A 1303 in thephysical device definition information 1402 illustrated in FIG. 14 (NOin step S1509), and thus the processing proceeds to step S1513.

In step S1513, the output destination device determination unit 705determines output destination devices of which names are described inthe job detail information 1102-1108 in the logical job 907 as outputtargets.

In step S1504, the job output unit 706 outputs the job to the outputdestination devices determined by the output destination devicedetermination unit 705 in step S1513. In the example illustrated in FIG.13, the logical job 907 is selected as an output target. Thus, the printjobs 900 to 903, the case binding job 904, and the cut and crease jobs905 and 906, which area included in the logical job 907, arerespectively output to the image forming apparatus 404, thepost-processing apparatus 406, and the post-processing apparatus 407.

Processing performed in a case where the instruction to output thelogical job 907 to the logical device A 1303 is issued is completed.

A case where an instruction to output the logical job 907 to thephysical device 1306 is issued will be described with reference to FIGS.11, 14, and 16. As a use case where an instruction to output a logicaljob to a physical device is issued, suppose that a device assigned atthe time point where a production schedule is generated is in a badcondition, and thus the logical job is desired to be output to anotherdevice.

In step S1501, the job output unit 706 determines whether a selected jobis a component job. In an example illustrated in FIG. 16, the logicaljob 907 is selected in the job list 1301. Thus, the job output unit 706receives the logical job 907. The job output unit 706 refers to the jobtype 1100 in the logical job 907 and specifies that the selected job isa logical job (NO in step S1501), and the processing proceeds to stepS1505.

In step S1505, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a physical device has been selected. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 16, the physical device 1306 is selected. At thistime, the output destination device determination unit 705 refers to theoutput destination device setting file 1400, and searches the outputdestination device setting file 1400 for a device name “image formingapparatus 405” of the selected physical device 1306. The device name ofthe selected physical device 1306 and a physical device name describedin the physical device definition information 1408 are both “imageforming apparatus 405”, and thereby match each other.

As a result, the output destination device determination unit 705determines that the physical device is selected (YES in step S1505), andthe processing proceeds to step S1506.

In step S1506, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a device type “on-demand printing machine” describedin the physical device definition information 1408 matches a device typein the job detail information included in the logical job 907. In anexample illustrated in FIG. 11, device types described in the job detailinformation 1102 to 1105 match the device type “on-demand printingmachine” described in the physical device definition information 1408(YES in step S1506), and thus the processing proceeds to step S1507.Device types described in the job detail information 1106 to 1108 do notmatch the device type “on-demand printing machine” described in thephysical device definition information 1408 (NO in step S1506), and thusthe processing proceeds to step S1508.

In step S1507, the output destination device determination unit 705rewrites output destination device names in the job detail information1102 to 1105 of which device types match the device type “on-demandprinting machine” described in the physical device definitioninformation 1408 to the device name “image forming apparatus 405” in thephysical device definition information 1408.

In step S1508, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether processing for the job detail information in a jobticket has all been completed. If the processing has all been completed(YES in step S1508), the processing proceeds to step S1504. If theprocessing has not all been completed (NO in step S1508), the processingproceeds to step S1506.

In step S1504, the job output unit 706 outputs the job to the outputdestination device determined by the output destination devicedetermination unit 705 in step S1507. In the example illustrated in FIG.16, the logical job 907 has been selected as an output target. Thus, theprint jobs 900 to 903, the case binding job 904, and the cut and creasejobs 905 and 906, which are included in the logical job 907, arerespectively output to the image forming apparatus 405, thepost-processing apparatus 406, and the post-processing apparatus 407.

Processing performed in a case where the instruction to output thelogical job 907 to the physical device 1306 is issued is completed.

A case where an instruction to output the logical job 907 to the logicaldevice B 1304 is issued will be described with reference to FIGS. 11,14, and 17. In an example illustrated in FIG. 14, for the logical deviceB 1304, the physical device designation information 1404 and 1405 aredescribed for the logical device definition information 1403 in theoutput destination device setting file 1400. In the physical devicedesignation information 1404, “image forming apparatus 405” and“on-demand printing machine” are respectively defined as an outputdestination device name and a model name. In the physical devicedesignation information 1405, the “post-processing apparatus 406” andthe “binding machine” are respectively defined as an output destinationdevice and a model name.

In an example illustrated in FIG. 17, in step S1509, the outputdestination device determination unit 705 refers to the logical devicedefinition information 1403 for the selected logical device B 1304, anddetermines whether the physical device designation information isdescribed. The physical device designation information is described forthe logical device B 1304 in the logical device definition information1403 illustrated in FIG. 14 (YES in step S1509), and thus the processingproceeds to step S1510.

In step S1510, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a device type “on-demand printing machine” describedin the physical device designation information 1404 matches the devicetype in the job detail information described in the logical job 907. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 11, the device types in the job detailinformation 1102 to 1105 match the device type “on-demand printingmachine” described in the physical device designation information 1404(YES in step S1510), and thus the processing proceeds to step S1511. Thedevice types described in the job detail information 1106 to 1108 do notmatch the device type “on-demand printing machine” in the physicaldevice designation information 1404 (NO in step S1510), and thus theprocessing proceeds to step S1512.

In step S1510, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a device type “binding machine” described in thephysical device designation information 1405 matches the device type inthe job detail information included described in the logical job 907. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 11, the device type in the job detailinformation 1106 matches the device type “booking machine” described inthe physical device designation information 1405 (YES in step S1510),and thus the processing proceeds to step S1511.

In step S1511, the output destination device determination unit 705rewrites the output destination device names described in the job detailinformation 1102 to 1105 of which device types match the device typedescribed in the physical device designation information 1404 to thedevice name “image forming apparatus 405” described in the physicaldevice designation information 1404. The output destination devicedetermination unit 705 rewrites the output destination device namedescribed in the job detail information 1106 of which device typematches the device type described in the physical device designationinformation 1405 to the device name “post-processing apparatus 406”described in the physical device designation information 1405.

In step S1512, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether processing for the job detail information in a jobticket has all been completed. If the processing has all been completed(YES in step S1512), the processing proceeds to step S1504. If theprocessing has not all been completed (NO in step S1512), the processingproceeds to step S1510.

In step S1504, the job output unit 706 outputs the job to the outputdestination device determined by the output destination devicedetermination unit 705 in step S1511. In the example illustrated in FIG.13, the logical job 907 has been selected as an output target. Thus, theprint jobs 900 to 903, the case binding job 904, and the cut and creasejobs 905 and 906, which are included in the logical job 907, arerespectively output to the image forming apparatus 405, thepost-processing apparatus 406, and the post-processing apparatus 407.

Processing performed in case where the instruction to output the logicaljob 907 to the logical device B 1304 is issued is completed.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, when an instruction to output a component job(a print job 900 in an example illustrated in FIG. 18) to a logicaldevice A 1303 is issued, in step S1501, the job output unit 706determines whether a selected job is a component job. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 18, the print job 900 is selected in the job list1301. Thus, the job output unit 706 receives the print job 900. The joboutput unit 706 refers to the job type 1001 in the print job 900 andspecifies that the selected job is a print job, i.e., a component job(YES in step S1501), and the processing proceeds to step S1502.

In step S1502, the output destination device determination unit 705determines whether a physical device has been selected, similarly instep S1505. In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, the logical device A1303 is selected. Thus, it is determined that the physical device is notselected (NO in step S1502), and the processing proceeds to step S1504.In step S1504, the job output unit 706 outputs the print job 900 to theimage forming apparatus 404 described in the print job 900.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in a case where an instruction to output theprint job 900 to the physical device 1306 is issued, in step S1502, theoutput destination device determination unit 705 determines whether aphysical device is selected, similarly in step S1505. In an exampleillustrated in FIG. 19, the physical device 1306 is selected. Thus, itis determined that the physical device is selected (YES in step S1502),and the processing proceeds to step S1503.

In step S1503, the output destination device determination unit 705determines the selected physical device 1306 as an output destinationdevice, and rewrites the device name 1002 in the print job 900 to thedevice name “image forming apparatus 405”.

If a model name of a selected device and a model name described in a jobdiffer from each other, it is determined that an error occurred. Theoutput destination device determination unit 705 performs processing fordisplaying an error message on a screen.

The processing for job output then ends.

Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, in a case where oneor more devices are used, and if an order of a product including one ormore components is produced in large numbers in a day, the number ofjobs increases. However, a worker may perform an output operation usinga logical job. More specifically, a load on an operation for selecting aplurality of devices to print a plurality of components is reduced byhandling a logical job for producing one product.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiment, one logical jobgenerated by collecting component jobs corresponding to each of theplurality of components is generated, and an operator can issue aninstruction to output the plurality of components using the one logicaljob. Thus, operability is improved.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™,a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-255209 filed Dec. 10, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: afirst display controlling unit configured to display a composite jobobject, a print job object, and a post-processing job object ascandidates for a to-be-outputted job in a first display area, thecomposite job object representing a composite job, the composite jobincluding a print job and a post-processing job for forming a product,the print job object representing the print job for forming the product,and the post-processing job object representing the post-processing jobfor forming the product; a second display controlling unit configured todisplay a logical device object, a printing apparatus object, and apost-processing apparatus object as candidates for an output destinationdevice in a second display area, the logical device object representinga logical device to which the printing apparatus and the post-processingapparatus are assigned, the printing apparatus object being an object ofthe printing apparatus, and the post-processing apparatus object beingan object of the post-processing apparatus; and a transmitting unitconfigured to transmit the print job included in the composite job tothe printing apparatus and the post-processing job included in thecomposite job to the post-processing apparatus in a case where thecomposite job object displayed in the first display area is selected andwhere the logical device object displayed in the second display area isselected, and transmit the print job to the printing apparatus in a casewhere the print job object displayed in the first display area isselected and where the printing apparatus object displayed in the seconddisplay area is selected.
 2. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the second display controlling unitfurther displays an object not being assigned to an output device in thesecond display area.
 3. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein, in a case where the composite job object displayedin the first display area is selected and where the object not beingassigned to the output device and displayed in the second display areais selected, the job is transmitted to an output device designated inthe composite job.
 4. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a first selection unit configured to selectone of the composite job object, the print job object, and thepost-processing job object displayed in the first display area as theto-be-outputted job, the composite job object representing the compositejob, the composite job including the print job and the post-processingjob for forming the product, the print job object representing the printjob for forming the product, and the post-processing job objectrepresenting the post-processing job for forming the product; and asecond selection unit configured to select one of the logical deviceobject, the printing apparatus object, and the post-processing apparatusobject displayed in the second display area as the output destinationdevice, the logical device object representing the logical device towhich the printing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus areassigned, the printing apparatus object being the object of the printingapparatus, and the post-processing apparatus object being the object ofthe post-processing apparatus.
 5. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein, in a case where the post-processing jobobject displayed in the first display area is selected and where thepost-processing apparatus object displayed in the second display area isselected, the post-processing job is transmitted to the post-processingapparatus.
 6. An information processing method comprising: displaying acomposite job object, a print job object, and a post-processing jobobject as candidates for a to-be-outputted job in a first display area,the composite job object representing a composite job, the composite jobincluding a print job and a post-processing job for forming a product,the print job object representing the print job for forming the product,and the post-processing job object representing the post-processing jobfor forming the product; displaying a logical device object, a printingapparatus object, and a post-processing apparatus object as candidatesfor an output destination device in a second display area, the logicaldevice object representing a logical device to which the printingapparatus and the post-processing apparatus are assigned, the printingapparatus object being an object of the printing apparatus, and thepost-processing apparatus object being an object of the post-processingapparatus; in a case where the composite job object displayed in thefirst display area is selected and where the logical device objectdisplayed in the second display area is selected, transmitting the printjob included in the composite job to the printing apparatus and thepost-processing job included in the composite job to the post-processingapparatus; and in a case where the print job object displayed in thefirst display area is selected and where the printing apparatus objectdisplayed in the second display area is selected, transmitting the printjob to the printing apparatus.
 7. The information processing methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising: displaying an object not beingassigned to an output device in the second display area.
 8. Theinformation processing method according to claim 7, wherein, in a casewhere the composite job object displayed in the first display area isselected and where the object not being assigned to the output deviceand displayed in the second display area is selected, the job istransmitted to an output device designated in the composite job.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program forcausing a computer to perform an information processing methodcomprising the steps of: displaying a composite job object, a print jobobject, and a post-processing job object as candidates for ato-be-outputted job in a first display area, the composite job objectrepresenting a composite job, the composite job including a print joband a post-processing job for forming a product, the print job objectrepresenting the print job for forming the product, and thepost-processing job object representing the post-processing job forforming the product; displaying a logical device object, a printingapparatus object, and a post-processing apparatus object as candidatesfor an output destination device in a second display area, the logicaldevice object representing a logical device to which the printingapparatus and the post-processing apparatus are assigned, the printingapparatus object being an object of the printing apparatus, and thepost-processing apparatus object being an object of the post-processingapparatus; in a case where the composite job object displayed in thefirst display area is selected and where the logical device objectdisplayed in the second display area is selected, transmitting the printjob included in the composite job to the printing apparatus and thepost-processing job included in the composite job to the post-processingapparatus; and in a case where the print job object displayed in thefirst display area is selected and where the printing apparatus objectdisplayed in the second display area is selected, transmitting the printjob to the printing apparatus.